Mullagh native Fr Ronan Drury (92), who is based in Maynooth, spends every Christmas back in his hometown.

Ordained in 1949, he is due to celebrate his 67th consecutive annual midnight mass in St Killian's tonight.

While Fr Drury does not recognise some of the young people in the area nowadays, he says he can see their grandparents in their eyes as he gives them communion.

The priest said "the whole midnight mass has a strong emotional element" for him.

"The scene, the full church, the great choir, the good crib, the lively decoration, the whole friendliness everywhere... As I am giving communion at midnight mass, I know that I don't recognise all the people coming up but I recognise them out of their parents," he told radio station Northern Sound.

"I can see their grandfathers look in the child's eye as they are coming up for communion.